Linda Morris – Australia

Born 1950, Kyabram, Victoria

Portrait of Bev Greet Oil on canvas 76 CM X 106 CM

Occupation:

Artist: painter, sculptor, landscape artist

Education:

1986 – 1988 Bachelor of Arts, Fine Art (Painting); Royal Melbourne Institute Technology

Media:

Oil on canvas, drawing, pencil & conte, landscape; cement, stone, water

Experiences related to art:

Mural design and production. Street Banner – Melbourne City Council. Various commissioned works – private collections. Design consultant/assistant for theatre – Anthill, Theatre Works. Self-published cards – art cards. Series of images published as cards by Art Publishing Australia.

Honours and awards:

Prize: St Kilda Council Art Competition for “Oscar” – exhibited at Linden Gallery, St Kilda

Solo exhibitions:

Forthcoming exhibition of paintings for children’s book “Drago and the Sea Monster”

2001 Northcote Library, Northcote

1988 Gallery Art Nieve

1982 Gallery Art Nieve

Group exhibitions:

2002 Kiss My Art; Melbourne Fringe festival

1996 Group Exhibition; Preston Gallery

1993 Northcote Festival Exhibition; Northcote, Melbourne

1991 Northcote Festival Exhibition; Northcote, Melbourne

1988 Group Exhibition; Royal Melbourne Institution of Technology Student Gallery

Important collections:

Collected privately

Artists’ statement:

I decided to paint a portrait of my friend of thirty years, Bev Greet, for this 2004 International Women Artists’ Exhibition.

Bev was diagnosed HIV positive in 1984. She is the founder of “Positive Women Victoria”. In 1999 she was awarded the Order of Australia medal for voluntary work for services to positive women. She is also a co-founder of I.C.W which advocates globally for women living with HIV/AIDS. Bev is also on the board of the Marie Stopes Foundation, and works as a sexual health co-ordinator for aboriginal health.

I have painted her in the vibrant colours she likes to wear. The colours of the flowers represent her aboriginal ancestry and the Koori flag. Red and yellow is also symbolic of Bev’s involvement with Tibetan Buddhism.

On a more personal note, the sulphur crested cockatoo represents her mother who died five years ago; she kept one of these birds as a pet for over twenty years. It is a symbol of longevity.

The design on the mat represents Taurus, Bev’s astrological sign, with the design are the horns of the bull and the taurean symbol with its connotations of strength, perseverance and determination to frequently travel the world in her quest to further the cause of positive women.

She is truly an International Woman. And her presence is always in colours.